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2005 Grant - Davis

Culturally Competent Materials on Communication and Dementia

Boyd Davis, Ph.D. The University of North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina

2005 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant

The nation's healthcare workforce is becoming increasingly more diverse. Because of this, "culturally competent" materials could help in training caregivers to improve their communication skills and social interaction among people with Alzheimer's disease.

Boyd Davis, Ph.D., and colleagues devised a pilot set of training materials for low-literacy and second-language care providers. This program was well received by health care workers affiliated with the Western Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Over the next three years, the researchers plan to develop a more complete set of training modules that meet best-practice care standards and that can be distributed in multiple print, audio and visual media. Students in gerontology, nursing and language at culturally diverse universities will participate in the assessment of the cultural competence of the training materials before they are distributed.

These training materials should benefit the care workers by enhancing their communication skills, increasing their job satisfaction and performance, and empowering them as part of the caregiving team. Individuals with dementia should benefit from easier communication, more fruitful social interactions and less agitation, all of which may contribute to their willingness to participate in daily activities.